You have spent a long time building up your business, don’t let it fall into the hands of a criminal……………
Are you still working on old operating systems? Windows 7, 8 or 8.1?
You need an up to date system which is currently supported by Microsoft. Unprotected systems are an open invitation to Hackers. You also need to have a robust anti-virus installed onto all devices which you use in your business. This will help to protect your system from Hackers and viruses.
Encryption software is a way of adding another layer of security to your system. These use a complicated password which would be hard to hack. Should your laptop or tablet get stolen or lost, you can contact the provider of this software and they will ensure nobody can get into your device. This type of software works better with two factor authentication, 2FA for short. When you log onto the software, it will send a one-time use only code to your mobile phone. It’s usually got 4, 5 or 6 digits. You only have a limited amount of time to enter the code, then you can access your data.
We were called in to see a company who work globally and were victims of a viral attack. We have now brought their systems up to date to help prevent it happening again. Nothing is 100% safe, but if you are on supported systems, it does give you more protection. Better to be safe than sorry.
Anti-virus is a MUST have.
There are lots to choose from, but we would strongly advise you do not opt for the ones which are free to use, no matter how tempting it is. You pay for business insurance, so why would you not pay to protect the equipment you use? These are the tools of your trade and if you did suffer a virus, how quickly could you recover from it?
We are partners of ESET Anti-virus. We trialled this on our own computers for a year before selling it to any of our Clients. If it would not have worked for us, we would not have recommended it. Unlike some anti-virus software, ESET does not slow your computer down. It protects it. There are different anti-virus solutions, depending on your needs. ESET also provide encryption software, which offers more protection as well.
Do you use your android mobile phone a lot for business?
Around 70% of people use their mobile phones as their main device these days. Have you got anti-virus installed on it? Download our “Android Mobile phone anti-virus protection” document here.
Or call us about how you can protect your system better, on 01909 741088.
We help businesses with IT support, consultancy, anti-virus and back up solutions and sales of IT equipment in Worksop, Retford, Mansfield, Dinnington. Rotherham, Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley. In fact, anywhere within 1 hour travelling distance or a 50mile radius of Worksop.
Back up for Business Continuity – what if……………
What if your premises suffered from a flood, theft or fire? Would you soon be able to be back up and running, or have you lost everything?
Small firms sometimes do not see the benefit of thinking about this, but they should! These things could happen to any firm of any size and in any location. Remember the “once in a 100 years” floods a few years ago? Then you’ll also remember that floods happened again to some businesses, within a couple of years from their first one.
It’s imperative that your system is backed up onto the Cloud, via encrypting your data and storing it onto secure servers in data banks located in the UK. You also need to know that this can be restored quite quickly, should the worst happen. Alternatively, you can back up your system onto a hard drive, but ensure that it is taken away from the office by a responsible person and kept safe until it’s brought back for the next back up.
Back up is where the data you have created or edited and saved, is backed up daily. A “restore” is when that data is accessed and downloaded onto a computer which has not been affected by theft, fire or flood. You should test your back up can be restores at least once a year, if not quarterly. This will give you peace of mind that should the worst happen, you can be up and running quite quickly.
Remember there is no excuse for not implementing a robust back up solution.
To discuss this further, please call us on 01909 741088.
Security of your computers – have an Internet Usage Policy (IUP)
Not only do you need to look after your computers in your premises, you need to also trust the people who work for you. You will have checked their references before employing them, but have you got an Internet Usage Policy (IUP)? This can be a one page, easy to read list of things that people can and cannot use the internet for.
In these days of social media, people are accessing many sites which can take up a considerable amount of time over a week, month or year. If one member of staff was on social media for personal reasons just 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week, this would add up to 5 hours a month; 60 hours a year. That’s around one and a half weeks of their annual holiday entitlement if they work full time. You can soon work out how much you are spending for them to be non-productive! You could limit these 15 minutes to be used at lunch breaks only. We would also recommend that you state on your IUP that you have the right to check their internet usage. Remember, it’s your company and any possible data breaches are your responsibility.
Surely you look after your business premises. Are you adequately insured? If you are unsure, we can refer you to one of our recommended trusted partners, who can sort your business insurance out for you.
